Being billed as a "one-stop-shop" for tourism, lodging, recreation and convention information, the proposed bureau could be paid for with part of the Hotel/Motel Sales Tax revenue.

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Angela Watson, an advocate for the idea of the bureau, said that right now many groups around Le Mars are promoting economic development in the form of tourism, but their efforts are not coordinated.

"The chamber doesn't own it exclusively, the city doesn't own it exclusively, the visitor's center doesn't own it exclusively," she said. "We need to have one person doing it."

Watson is also a member of the Hotel/Motel Sales Tax Advisory Board, which gives recommendations on how that tax revenue should be divided.

Watson pointed out this idea of a bureau is only that -- an idea.

"It's all conceptual, all developmental at this point," she said. "We're not trying to pull a fast one. We're not trying to take money away from anyone. We're trying to come up with a more efficient way to grow, and hopefully by that we'll bring in more money for Le Mars."

That 5 percent hotel/motel tax, which generates about $100,000 each year, currently provides money for Le Mars TV advertisements, promoting and running Ice Cream Days, and helping with projects like building restrooms at the fairgrounds' grandstand and restoring the Postal Playhouse's front lobby.

To receive grants, groups submit applications, which are reviewed by the Hotel/Motel Sales Tax Advisory Board. That board then gives recommendations on awards for the city council's final approval.

Le Mars residents voted "yes" to the 5 percent tax in 2001. That vote approved the tax until 2016 with the revenue set aside for tourism projects in the city.

Watson projected that about 60 percent of the hotel/motel sales tax revenue, about $60,000, could be directed to fund the Convention and Visitor Bureau. The remaining 40 percent could still be used for grants.

Several projects that are usually funded by grants, Watson said, would be folded into the bureau.

The proposal involves possibly adding extra duties for the current Le Mars Convention Center manager, Jessica Lingren, transitioning her into being the bureau's director, along with managing the convention center rentals.

"It's not just promoting Le Mars as a tourist stop," Watson said. "It's also looking for opportunities to rent the convention center during the week."

Along with Lingren's shift, the Hotel/Motel Sales Tax Advisory Board would be transitioned into a Convention and Visitor Bureau Advisory Board.

The next step, Watson said, is to discuss moving the idea forward at the July 17 Hotel/Motel Sales Tax Advisory Board meeting.

The plan is to present the concept to the city council by the first part of August.

Both meetings are open to the public.

Watson said other communities in Iowa have created Convention and Visitor Bureaus and paid for them with hotel/motel sales tax.

Fairfield, with a population of around 9,500, opened a bureau in 2004.

"Prior to that, the city ran a hotel/motel sales tax for a year so we'd have an operating budget when we started," said Rustin Lippincott, the Fairfield bureau's executive director.

The Fairfield bureau continues to receive 100 percent of the hotel/motel sales tax revenue, about $130,000, he said, adding that it's a somewhat unusual situation.

"You could get by with less," he said. "You could get by with $60,000."

Lippincott said the bureau gives out about $10,000 in grants to tourism entities in Fairfield. They also run a website, create brochures, work with the media, announce events, and promote attractions, accommodations and restaurants in town.

"The number one reason people travel in Iowa is to visit family and friends," he said. "The more you promote a town, the more likely people are to invite their family and friends to come visit them there."

And with high gas prices, the big buzzword in tourism right now is "staycations," Watson pointed out.

"People are staying close to home," she said. "We have golf, lodging, unique attractions. Let's get the word out in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Let's market staycations at the Ice Cream Capital of the World."

Watson said the idea for a local bureau came up several months ago when Mayor Dick Kirchoff contacted her and said he wanted to talk about tourism in Le Mars. They agreed to look into the idea, taking it slowly.

"I'll quote the mayor: 'We need to crawl before we can walk,'" Watson said.

Watson has been involved in Le Mars tourism as previous manager of the Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center Museum.

"Do we want to stay the same and do as we've always done? Or do we want to think as visionaries?" she asked. "Le Mars is going places, and if we don't recognize that, we will always stay the same."